What genres and playing styles is the P5 best suited for?

The P5 excels in funk, djent, and progressive music where articulation and midrange cut are priorities. It's not optimized for jazz or folk applications, where smoother, rounder tones are typically preferred.

How long will a 9V battery last with this pickup?

The P5 draws only 80 microamps at 9V, delivering approximately 3000 hours of battery life per charge—roughly 4+ months of regular use.

What output voltage can I expect, and will it work with my amp or interface?

Standard finger and thumb playing produces 2.00V output, while aggressive thump technique reaches 4.50V, giving you serious headroom into any amp or audio interface. The 10 Kohm output impedance integrates smoothly with standard gear.

What's included in the box, and how difficult is installation?

The package includes the pickup, 25K volume and tone pots, battery bus, stereo output jack, pickup cable, adjustment screws, and EMG's Quik-Connect solderless cable system for fast setup and removal without soldering.

How does the P5 compare to other 5-string active pickups?

The P5 focuses on punchy midrange presence and tight attack via its ceramic split-coil design, contrasting with rounder options like the Bartolini BA5CBC-H or the more neutral Seymour Duncan SPB-3; it's purpose-built for modern, defined tones in dense mixes.

Do I pay sales tax on this order?

We collect sales tax only on orders shipped to California. Orders shipped to any other US state are charged $0 sales tax at checkout when you buy direct from our website. Marketplaces such as eBay, Reverb and Amazon collect sales tax in nearly every state as marketplace facilitators no matter who the seller is, so the same item at the same price costs less bought direct. Free US shipping and 30-day returns are included. Some states ask buyers to self-report use tax on out-of-state purchases.

EMG P5 5-String Active Bass Pickup in Ivory

The EMG P5 delivers articulate, punchy response across the full dynamic range of a 5-string bass. Its split-coil ceramic design cuts through dense mixes with focused midrange presence while maintaining clarity from the lowest fundamental to aggressive thumb attacks. This is a workhorse pickup engineered for bass players who prioritize definition and output consistency.

Tone & Output Performance

The P5 produces 2.00V output under standard finger/thumb technique and reaches 4.50V under aggressive thump playing, giving you serious headroom and presence at the mixing desk or amp input. A 3.20 kHz resonant frequency peaks the midrange where bass cuts through, while the ceramic magnet design provides the tight, modern attack players expect from active electronics.

Electronics & Reliability

The onboard preamp draws just 80 microamps at 9V, yielding exceptional 3000-hour battery life per charge. Signal noise floors at -106 dB (60 Hz) keep your tone clean, and the 10 Kohm output impedance integrates smoothly with any amp or interface. The pickup supports up to 27V DC maximum supply for extended headroom if you run dual batteries.

Key Features

Ceramic magnet, split-coil configuration for focused midrange and articulation
Output voltage: 2.00V (finger/thumb) / 4.50V (thump)
Resonant frequency: 3.20 kHz
Output impedance: 10 Kohm
Output noise: -106 dB @ 60 Hz
Current draw: 80 microamps at 9V
Battery life: 3000 hours per 9V cell
Maximum supply voltage: 27V DC
Dimensions: 2.25" length × 1.10" width (57.2mm × 27.9mm)
Includes 25K volume pot, 25K tone pot, battery bus, stereo output jack, pickup cable, and adjustment screws
EMG Quik-Connect® solderless cable system for fast installation and removal
Ivory finish

The EMG P5 combines straightforward active circuitry with robust output and longevity, making it a reliable choice for 5-string players who need consistency and cut.